Fibromyalgia; Facts to Know.Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal musculoskeletal /mus·cu·lo·skel·e·tal/ (-skel´e-t'l) pertaining to or comprising the skeleton and muscles.mus·cu·lo·skel·e·tal adj. Relating to or involving the muscles and the skeleton. pain and multiple tender points. "Tender points" refers to tenderness that occur in localized areas, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips. People with fibromyalgia may also experience fatigue, sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), condition characterized by frequently alternating constipation and diarrhea in the absence of any disease process. It is usually accompanied by abdominal pain, especially in the lower left quadrant, bloating, and flatulence. , anxiety, depression and other symptoms. About 2 percent of the U.S. adult population suffers from fibromyalgia, and it predominantly affects women. The condition primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, but children, the elderly and men can be affected. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, though the disorder can be successfully managed. Fibromyalgia is defined based on widespread pain in combination with tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites for at least three months. There are no lab tests to confirm a diagnosis, although such tests may be used to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. There appears to be a link between fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), collection of persistent, debilitating symptoms, the most notable of which is severe, lasting fatigue. In other countries it is known variously as myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, and (CFS). Up to 70 percent of people with fibromyalgia fit the criteria for CFS. Low-impact aerobic exercise such as walking and swimming can help manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Physical therapy and stretching exercises also help. A variety of medications are used to treat fibromyalgia, including the first approved medication for fibromyalgia, Lyrica (pregabalin). Other medications include antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs. If you are diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you should monitor your pain, noting activities that increase it and therapeutic approaches that improve it. Repetitive activities may temporarily exacerbate the condition, as may sitting in one position for long stretches of time. Studies find that negative thinking increases stress and affects your perception of pain, so learning to minimize and control these thoughts can improve your symptoms. The key is not so much to "think positively," but to "think non-negatively." References "Patient information: Fibromyalgia." Uptodate.com. Updated December 2006. http://patients.uptodate.com. 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"Improvement in Fibromyalgia with Treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth intestinal bacterial overgrowth Afferent loop syndrome, gastrojejunal loop obstruction, stagnant loop syndrome Infectious disease A condition characterized by excess growth of opportunistic bacteria, which occurs when normal gut flora is eradicated with antibiotics (SIBO SIBO Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth SIBO Sixteen Bit Organiser (Psion) SIBO Sanda Island Bird Observatory (Scotland) SIBO Sixteen Bit Organizers ): A Double Blind Randomized Study." Arthritis & Rheumatism rheumatism (r  `mətĭzəm), general term for a number of disorders that cause inflammation and pain in muscles, bones, joints, or nerves. . 42:S343, 1999. Accessed June 11, 2004.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Fibromyalgia. FibroFree Fibromyalgia Recovery Program. http://www.fibrofree.com. Accessed June 11, 2004. Yunus, M. "Fibromyalgia and overlapping syndromes." Fibromyalgia Network. http://www.fmnetnews.com. Accessed June 11, 2004. Chang, L. "The Association of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and Fibromyalgia." European Journal of Surgery; 1998; Supplement 583: 32-36. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain. Excerpted from "Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the for details. This article has been tagged since September 2007. : A Survival Guide" by DJ Starlanyl and ME Copeland. Revised April 7, 2004. http://www.sover.net. Accessed June 11, 2004. Burckhardt C. "How Pain Affects the Mind." Presentation at FAME 2000 International Fibromyalgia Conference, 5/20/99-5/21/00. Universal City, Calif. Jasmin L. "FMS FMS - Flexible Manufacturing System (factory automation). : A CNS See Continuous net settlement. CNS See continuous net settlement (CNS). Disease." Fibromyalgia Network (newsletter). April 21, 2000. Engstrom D. "Biofeedback biofeedback, method for learning to increase one's ability to control biological responses, such as blood pressure, muscle tension, and heart rate. Sophisticated instruments are often used to measure physiological responses and make them apparent to the patient, who " Presentation at FAME 2000 International Fibromyalgia Conference, 5/20/99-5/21/00. Universal City, Calif. Engstom D. "Coping with Emotions: The Role of the Psychologist/Psychiatrist." Presentation at FAME 2000 International Fibromyalgia Conference, 5/20/99-5/21/00. Universal City, Calif. Moldofsky H. "Sleep, neuroimmune and neuroendocrine neuroendocrine /neu·ro·en·do·crine/ (-en´do-krin) pertaining to neural and endocrine influence, and particularly to the interaction between the nervous and endocrine systems. neu·ro·en·do·crine adj. functions in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome." Advances in Neruoimmunology. Vol. 5. 1995. 39-56. Pillemer S, Bradley L, Crofford L, et al. "The Neuroscience and Endocrinology of Fibromyalgia." Arthritis & Rheumatism. Nov. 1997. Vol. 40, No. 11. 1928-1939. Bennett R. "Chronic Widespread Pain and the Fibromyalgia Construct." Pain Digest. 1999. 9:292-298. Russell J. "Fibromyalgia Syndrome." Presentation at FAME 2000 International Fibromyalgia Conference, 5/20/99-5/21/00. Universal City, Calif. Wallace D, Linker-Israeli M, Hallegua D, et al. "Cytokines play an etiopathogenetic role in fibromyalgia: A pilot study." Abstract 950156. Presented at the American College of Rheumatology, 64th Annual Scientific Meeting, April 30, 2000. Hardy M. "Fibromyalgia and Integrative Medicine: Evaluation of Efficacy & Safety." Presentation at FAME 2000 International Fibromyalgia Conference, 5/20/99-5/21/00. Universal City, Calif. "What Research Is Being Conducted on Fibromyalgia?" National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Published Dec. 1999. http://www.niams.nih.gov. Accessed June 11, 2004. "FM Monograph" National Fibromyalgia Partnership, Inc. Copyright 2004. http://www.fmpartnership.org. Accessed June 11, 2004. "Fibromyalgia Medicationst" The Arthritis Foundation. 2004.http://www.arthritis.org. Accessed June 11, 2004. Arnold LM. Biology and therapy of fibromyalgia. New therapies in fibromyalgia. Arthritis Research and Therapy 2006;8:212. Arnold LM, Hudson JI, Hess EV, et al. Family study of fibromyalgia. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2004;50:944-952. Keywords: fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia syndrome, tender points, sleep, women, depression, antidepressants |
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